Hey everyone I'm new here. I just picked up a 1983 Keystone and wanted a place to document the work to the camper as I go. So far everything works (fridge, stove, furnace, water pump) but there are a couple things that need some love. I have to narrow the floor pack to get it in my truck which I will try and document with pics as I go. I also need to fix the roof lift panels which are just sort of old and crappy. And the fuse panel and associated wiring kind of sucks so I am going to rewire it. Also I have one tail light cover that is broken and cannot find a replacement, if anyone has a spare reflect-o-lite 1400 lens please let me know. I need the red/clear lens. I'll put up a couple pics here in a little while, just need to figure out how to do that.
1983 keystone build in Bigsky Country
- Thread starter Bigskyxj
- Start date
IMAG0522 by bigskyxj, on FlickrI picked the camper up about 4 days ago and it had a latrine in the passenger side rear corner. I think the original intent was for use with a cassette type toilet. It seemed like a giant waste of space and I honestly don't plan on using a toilet in my cAmper so I just took it out.
Old Crow
Searching....
Welcome, Bigskyxj...
Looking forward to your build photos!
I imagine you've seen this excellent Keystone Rebuild- Narrow Floor Pack, Redo Interior, Paint Exterior thread but I thought I'd attach it here anyway for those who may not have.
Also- post 31 of that thread shows the rear lights being updated.
Also- I see this Reflect-o-lite 1400 backup lens on Ebay.
Good luck with your build!
.
Looking forward to your build photos!
I imagine you've seen this excellent Keystone Rebuild- Narrow Floor Pack, Redo Interior, Paint Exterior thread but I thought I'd attach it here anyway for those who may not have.
Also- post 31 of that thread shows the rear lights being updated.
Also- I see this Reflect-o-lite 1400 backup lens on Ebay.
Good luck with your build!
.
Old Crow,
Thanks for the link on the light cover. After looking at I think updating to some led lights would be the way to go. My plan is to have the floor narrowed by the end of this week. I'll make sure to take lots of pictures.
Thanks for the link on the light cover. After looking at I think updating to some led lights would be the way to go. My plan is to have the floor narrowed by the end of this week. I'll make sure to take lots of pictures.
shellback
Senior Member
I didn't realize CJ's thread was on WTW. I originally found it on Adventure rider. It was the thread that encouraged me to look for a FWC project.
PokyBro
Senior Member
Bigskyx,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing you’re new to you camper. There’s all of a sudden quite a few of you guys starting out with new projects and the start of build outs. They’re always fun to see what individuals come up with. Good luck with yours, I did my build over the past couple years working on it when I had time and the weather cooperated. If I can answer any questions, feel free to contact me.
Poky
Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing you’re new to you camper. There’s all of a sudden quite a few of you guys starting out with new projects and the start of build outs. They’re always fun to see what individuals come up with. Good luck with yours, I did my build over the past couple years working on it when I had time and the weather cooperated. If I can answer any questions, feel free to contact me.
Poky
Poky,
Thanks for the welcome. Tomorrow is day one of the floor pack teardown. I'm gonna head in to the shop a couple hours before work starts and tear down as much as I can. I figure if I can do a couple of hours per day I should have the floor pack narrowed by the end of the week.
Thanks for the welcome. Tomorrow is day one of the floor pack teardown. I'm gonna head in to the shop a couple hours before work starts and tear down as much as I can. I figure if I can do a couple of hours per day I should have the floor pack narrowed by the end of the week.
Progress was made today, got the passengers side tore out. Tomorrow I will cut 3" off the side and start cutting new wood to go back on. Most of the wood I took off got pretty jacked up trying to pull the long staples out.
2625 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
2626 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
2627 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
2625 by bigskyxj, on Flickr2626 by bigskyxj, on Flickr2627 by bigskyxj, on FlickrMade some more progress this morning. Cut 3" out of the passengers side.
IMAG0527 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
My buddy let me borrow his oscillating saw which made the end cuts in the corners a hell of a lot easier.
IMAG0528 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
Trimmed away the wall board to expose the frame at the front of the camper. this has to move in 3" as well.
IMAG0525 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
IMAG0527 by bigskyxj, on FlickrMy buddy let me borrow his oscillating saw which made the end cuts in the corners a hell of a lot easier.
IMAG0528 by bigskyxj, on FlickrTrimmed away the wall board to expose the frame at the front of the camper. this has to move in 3" as well.
IMAG0525 by bigskyxj, on FlickrNext i ground the welds off of the vertical frame beam and moved it in 3". On the horizontal frame rail on the bottom i cut away 3 sides so that i can fold it up to use as an attachment point for the vertical beam.
IMAG0530 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
After putting the vertical beam back in I folded the lower piece up and riveted it together. It's not the greatest way to go about this but i do not have a way to weld aluminum so it will have to do. It should provide some vertical support by atleast holding that piece in there.
IMAG0534 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
IMAG0530 by bigskyxj, on FlickrAfter putting the vertical beam back in I folded the lower piece up and riveted it together. It's not the greatest way to go about this but i do not have a way to weld aluminum so it will have to do. It should provide some vertical support by atleast holding that piece in there.
IMAG0534 by bigskyxj, on FlickrFinished up the wood work on the passengers side today. It took longer than I anticipated. Its a bit of a slow process trying to line up all the pieces by yourself but it is possible. It doesn't help that I'm not much of a carpenter. I used liquid nails and screws to secure all the wood pieces to each other.
2706 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
2705 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
All I have left to do on the passengers side is to trim the aluminum siding accordingly and re install the trim. I may paint the wood before installing the trim just to protect it.
Hopefully I can get back to it Monday morning early and get the drivers side knocked out fairly quick. I am itching to get this thing in my truck and install the eyelets in the bed of my pickup.
After that it will be on to getting the battery and wiring squared away.
2706 by bigskyxj, on Flickr2705 by bigskyxj, on FlickrAll I have left to do on the passengers side is to trim the aluminum siding accordingly and re install the trim. I may paint the wood before installing the trim just to protect it.
Hopefully I can get back to it Monday morning early and get the drivers side knocked out fairly quick. I am itching to get this thing in my truck and install the eyelets in the bed of my pickup.
After that it will be on to getting the battery and wiring squared away.
Well I got a lot done, things were going smooth and I managed to get all the wood stuff done. I painted all the new wood to protect it. I got my fuse panel wiring knocked out and battery isolater/charger all hooked up. More pics to come.
received_1961355240616049 by bigskyxj, on Flickr
received_1961355240616049 by bigskyxj, on FlickrSimilar threads - WTW
- Black914
- Four Wheel Camper Discussions
- Replies: 2
- Views: 261
- Funstini
- Gear Exchange
- Replies: 7
- Views: 523
- fuse614
- Four Wheel Camper Discussions
- Replies: 5
- Views: 608
- Black914
- Four Wheel Camper Discussions
- Replies: 4
- Views: 206
